Device for guiding at least a flexible elongated element such as a cable or the like, with substantially closed contour

ABSTRACT

A device for guiding a flexible elongated element such as a cable or the like, designed to guide the element during a drawing process, and comprising several rollers mounted pivoting about an axis and arranged such that they define a space for receiving the element and whereof the contour is substantially closed, the shafts of the rollers being borne by a support capable of opening into two parts whereof one is mounted articulated relative to the other; a first part is a bent flat iron such that it is formed by three abutted U-shaped brackets, two brackets being arranged facing each other and coupled each with the end of the wing of the other bracket whereof the web extends perpendicular to the parallel webs of the two brackets and the second part is a flat iron bent so as to form a bracket similar to the brackets of the first part but whereof the ends of the wings, not coupled to the web of the U-shaped bracket, are prolonged along two lugs extending outwards of the U parallel to the U web.

The present invention relates to a device for guiding at least oneflexible elongate member.

The expression “flexible elongate member” means a member of greatlength, often supplied on spools and installed by paying it out from aspool.

Examples of a flexible elongate member of this kind are an electrical orsimilar cable or a tube, for example an instrumentation or fluidtransport tube; the term “electrical cable” means not only a cableadapted to transport and distribute electrical power but also a cable ora fiber adapted to transmit information electrically, optically orotherwise.

Cables are frequently referred to hereinafter to facilitate thedescription, but of course anything stated in connection with cables isvalid for any kind of flexible elongate member.

The cable drawing operation is generally carried out to install thecable in its place of use.

It is rare for the installed cable to be entirely straight. It has tofollow an installation route that often includes bends and/or changes oflevel.

Cable guide devices for guiding the cable during the cable drawingoperation have already been proposed; such guide devices generallyinclude one or more rollers rotating about a shaft disposed transverselyto the direction in which the drawn cable moves.

The document FR-A-2 664 441 proposes a device for guiding at least oneflexible elongate member such as a cable or the like, adapted to guidesaid member during a drawing operation carried out to install it, forexample, and including a plurality of rollers rotatable about a shaftadapted to be disposed transversely to the direction of movement of thedrawn member and disposed so that they define a space adapted to receivesaid member and whose contour generally transversely to said directionof movement is substantially closed, the shafts of the rollers beingcarried by a closed but openable two-part support, one part of which isarticulated to the other part.

The above kind of guide device can draw the cable in all directions.

An object of the present invention is to propose a guide device of theabove type that is simple and easy to produce.

In accordance with the invention a device for guiding at least oneflexible elongate member such as a cable or the like, adapted to guidesaid member during a drawing operation carried out to install it, forexample, and including a plurality of rollers rotatable about a shaftadapted to be disposed transversely to the direction of movement of thedrawn member and disposed so that they define a space adapted to receivesaid member and whose contour generally transversely to said directionof movement is substantially closed, the shafts of the rollers beingcarried by a closed but openable two-part support, one part of which isarticulated to the other part, is characterized in that a first part isa flat strip bent to a shape consisting of three butt-jointed U-shapedbrackets, two brackets being disposed face to face and each connected tothe end of a flange of the remaining bracket, whose web is perpendicularto the parallel webs of said two brackets, and the second part is a flatstrip bent to form a bracket similar to the brackets of the first partbut in which the ends of the flanges not joined to the web of theU-shaped bracket are extended by two lugs extending toward the outsideof the U-shape in a direction parallel to the web of said U-shape.

Each of the brackets of the support preferably receives a roller freelyrotatable about a shaft carried by the flanges of each bracket of thesupport and parallel to its web.

The shafts are advantageously retained axially by, at one end, a headthat they have at one end and, at the other end, by deforming theirother end to form two stop lugs to prevent axial movement, for example,extending radially beyond the diameter of a hole formed in thecorresponding flange of the U-shape and through which the shaft passes.

The shafts associated with the brackets of the first part that face eachother are preferably used to fasten together the two parts of thesupport so that the two lugs of the second part are held pressed againstthe outside face of the free flanges of said brackets of the first part.

The shafts of the rollers are advantageously in substantially the sameplane.

The rollers are preferably all identical and their shafts preferably aredisposed along the sides of a square.

The two parts advantageously carry locking means for locking the supportin a closed configuration.

The locking means are preferably hook-like; the hook preferablycooperates with an end provided with a head of the shaft of a roller.

The support is advantageously locked elastically in its closedconfiguration by an elastic part of the support that carries the hook.

The contour of the space adapted to receive at least one elongate memberis preferably circular.

The outside peripheral surface of the rollers advantageously has atoroidal portion.

The ends of the rollers are preferably such that there is virtually nogap between the rollers.

The support advantageously includes at least one slot for fixing it to asupport member.

The outside peripheral surface of the rollers is preferably of at leasttwo sharply contrasting colors.

To explain the subject matter of the invention better, an embodiment ofthe invention shown in the accompanying drawings is described next byway of purely illustrative and non-limiting example.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a guide device according to theinvention fixed to a wire cable tray;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the guide device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a part-sectional view of a fixing accessory used to fix theguide device to the wire cable tray;

FIG. 4 is a plan viewing showing the use of guide devices according tothe invention to install cables in a cable tray portion that is notstraight;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 and shows the use of guide devices accordingto the invention to install cables in a cable tray portion that includesa change of level;

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 1 and shows the guide device according to theinvention “opened” to insert cables before drawing the cables; and

FIG. 7 is a partial view showing a variant fixing accessory, here in theform of vise means.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a guide device 10 in accordance with the invention.

Here the guide device 10 is used to install cables 150 in a cable tray50.

In the embodiment shown, the cable tray 50 is a wire cable tray in theform of a wire mesh made up of two different types of wires, namely, onthe one hand, longitudinal wires 51, usually called the warp wires,which run longitudinally and straight or virtually over their wholelength, and, on the other hand, disposed transversely from place toplace along the longitudinal wires 51, and appropriately attachedthereto, U-shaped transverse wires 52, usually referred to as weftwires, the combination globally forming three panels, which are inpractice flat or substantially flat, namely a bottom panel and twolateral panels.

The guide device 10 can also be used to install cables in a sheet metalcable tray, not shown, of a type known in the art.

Wire and sheet metal cable trays are routinely used, like troughs, tosupport, house and protect cables such as the cables 150.

The guide device 10 consists of a support 11-12 supporting rollers 21,in this case four rollers 21.

The support 11-12 is in two parts, comprising a first part 11 and asecond part 12.

The first part 11 is flat strip bent so that it is globally U-shaped; tobe more precise, it consists of three butt-jointed U-shaped brackets111, 112, 113; the two brackets 111 and 113 are disposed face to faceand each is connected to the end of a flange of the bracket 112, whoseweb is perpendicular to the parallel webs of the brackets 111 and 113.

The second part 12 is a flat strip similar to the flat strip of thefirst part 11, bent to form a U-shaped bracket similar to the brackets111, 112, 113, but with the ends of the flanges not joined to the web ofthe bracket extended by two lugs 121, 122 extending toward the outsideof the U-shape in a direction parallel to the web of said U-shape.

Each of the support brackets 11-12 receives a roller 21 freely rotatableabout a shaft 30 carried by the flanges of each bracket of the support11-12 and parallel to its web; the shafts 30 are retained axially by, atone end, a head 31 that they have at one end and, at the other end, bydeforming their other end 32 to form, for example, two stop lugs toprevent axial movement, extending radially beyond the diameter of a holeformed in the corresponding flange of the U-shape and through which theshaft 30 passes.

Here, the shafts 30 associated with the brackets 111 and 113 are used tofasten together the two parts 11 and 12 of the support so that the twolugs 121, 122 of the second part 12 are pressed against the outsidefaces of the free flanges of the brackets 111 and 113 of the first part11.

Each roller 21, which is made of a plastics material, for example, isnaturally circular and has a central portion 22 flanked by two endportions 23, 24; the central portion 22 is diabolo-shaped: to be moreprecise, its generatrix is a circular arc subtending an angle of 90degrees, and the central portion 22 is therefore of toroidal shape; eachend portion 23, 24 is frustoconical, the apex of each cone is outsidethe flanges of the bracket of the support receiving the roller 21, andthe generatrices of each truncated cone are inclined at 45 degrees toits base.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 in particular, when the device is assembled thefour rollers 21 define a substantially closed internal space 100 whichhas a circular contour 101 and is intended to receive the cable orcables to be installed; there remain only very small gaps between twoadjacent rollers 21, which correspond to a functional clearance enablingthe rollers to rotate freely relative to each other; the gap is in anyevent very much smaller than the diameter of the cable to be installed.

Obviously, using the invention, it is possible to draw a cable throughthe space 100 in any direction, in particular (as shown in FIG. 2)upward, downward, toward the left or toward the right, one of therollers 21 being always available for each of these directions.

To facilitate inserting the cables 150 into the space 100 before drawingthem, the support 11-12 of the guide device 10 is preferably openable;here, the lug 121 of the second part 12 is conformed as a hook by meansof a transverse cut-out 123 (see FIG. 6) opening into a longitudinaloblong opening 124; the width of the cut-out 123 and the oblong opening124, which is thus perpendicular to the cut-out 123, is only veryslightly greater than the diameter of the body of a shaft 30;accordingly, from the open position of the support 11-12 shown in FIG.6, it suffices to pivot the second part 12 of the support 11-12 aboutthe shaft that passes through its lug 122, to move its lug 121 onto thefree flange of the bracket 111 of the first part 11 and under the headof the corresponding shaft 30; the closed support 11-12 is locked whenthe body of the shaft 30 has passed through the cut-out 123 and takes upits position in the end of the oblong opening 124 close to the flange ofthe bracket of the second part 12. To be sure that this has occurred,and therefore to ensure safe locking, the webs of the brackets 111 and113 when at rest at not strictly parallel, but instead inclined slightlytoward each other and the brackets 111 and 113 are spread apart to fitthe cut-out 123 under the head of the shaft 30 of the bracket 111; whenthe end of the cut-out 123 is positioned correctly, they move backelastically toward each other, which places the body of the shaft 30 atthe end of the oblong opening 124 and elastically ensures safe locking.

Be this as it may, to be sure that the support 11-12 cannot open whendrawing cables, it suffices to position the guide device 10 so that thecables are drawn in the direction of the arrow F (FIG. 6).

Continuing with the example of application of the guide device 10 toinstalling cables 150 in a wire cable tray 50, FIG. 4 is a plan view ofa wire cable tray including four bends, here right-angle bends; it canbe seen that it is easy to draw the cables 150 because of the guidedevice 10 in accordance with the invention installed at each bend.

In side view (FIG. 5) the cable tray 50 has a shape enabling it tocircumvent an obstacle 201, such as a beam projecting from a ceiling200. Once again, the three guide devices 10 placed as shown enable thecables 150 to be drawn easily despite the change of level.

As shown, the outside surface of the rollers 21 includes two areas 25,26 on respective opposite sides of a plane passing through the axis ofthe rollers 21; the two areas 25, 26 are different and sharplycontrasting colors; here the area 25 is black and the area 26 is white;two different colors can of course be used, provided that they aresharply contrasting; by virtue of this feature, the operator drawing thecables 150 is able to see, even from far away, that the rollers 21 arerotating and not jammed, which would entail the risk not only ofincreasing the drawing force but also of damaging the cables by rubbing.

The webs of the brackets 111, 112, 113 of the first part of the support11-12 include a slot 114 for fixing the guide device 10 to a supportmember.

In the example described and shown here the support member is the cabletray 50 itself; a fixing accessory 40 is provided that includesattachment means for fastening it to one of the panels of the cable tray50, here the bottom panel.

When used with a sheet metal cable tray, the guide device 10 can befixed directly to the cable tray by bolting it to a panel thereofwithout requiring fixing accessories.

The fixing accessory 40 is of the kind described in the document WO99/06746, which should be referred to for more details. The fixingaccessory 40 takes the form of a globally rectangular plate including,on the one hand (see FIG. 3), a groove 41 in its bottom surface adaptedto receive a longitudinal wire 51 of the cable tray 50 and, on the otherhand, lugs 42, 43, of which the lug 43 includes a transverselyprojecting clipping bead 44; the lugs 42, 43 engage under two adjoiningtransverse wires 52, the dimensions of the fixing accessory 40 beingdetermined accordingly.

Thus the fixing accessory 40 is held in place relative to the cable tray50. It incorporates various holes 45, one of which is used to fasten thesupport 11-12, and therefore the device 10, to the fixing accessory 40by means of a nut and bolt fastener.

Other types of fixing accessory can be used, for example that describedin the document FR-A-2 796 121, or vice means such as the vice means 140shown in the FIG. 7 partial view.

The vise means 140 can be used to fix the guide device to a pair ofwires, as shown in FIG. 7, or to a lateral panel of a sheet metal cabletray, or to a cable tray support bracket.

It is therefore possible to mount the guide device 10 in any position ona cable tray, of any type.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for guiding at least one flexibleelongate member, adapted to guide said member during a drawing operationand including a plurality of rollers (21) rotatable about shafts (30)adapted to be disposed transversely to the direction of movement of thedrawn member and disposed so that they define a space (100) adapted toreceive said member and whose contour (101) generally transversely tosaid direction of movement is substantially closed, the shafts (30) ofthe rollers (21) being carried by a closed but openable two-part support(11-12), one part (12) of which is articulated to an other part (11),characterized in that said other part (11) is a flat strip bent to ashape consisting of three butt-jointed U-shaped brackets (111, 112,113), two brackets (111, 113) being disposed face to face with a spacingbetween them and each connected to the end of a flange of the thirdbracket (112), and said one part (12) is a flat strip bent to form afourth U-shaped bracket similar to the brackets (111, 112, 113) of theother part (11) but in which the ends of the flanges not joined to theweb of the U-shaped bracket are each extended by two lugs (121, 122)extending toward the outside of the U-shape in a direction parallel tothe web of said U-shape, the two lugs carrying locking means for lockingthe support (11-12) in a closed configuration, the locking means being ahook (123-124), the support (11-12) being elastically deformable toalter said spacing thereby to be locked elastically in its closedconfiguration by elasticity of said other part (11).
 2. A guide deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that each of the brackets of thesupport (11-12) receives one of said rollers (21) freely rotatable aboutone of said shafts (30) carried by the flanges of each bracket of thesupport (11-12) and parallel to its web.
 3. A guide device according toclaim 2, characterized in that the shafts (30) are retained axially by,at one end, a head (31) that they have at one end and, at the other end,by deforming their other end (32) to form two stop lugs to prevent axialmovement, extending radially beyond the diameter of a hole formed in thecorresponding flange of the U-shape and through which the shaft (30)passes.
 4. A guide device according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe shafts (30) associated with the brackets (111 and 113) of the otherpart (11) that face each other are used to fasten together the two parts(11, 12) of the support so that the two lugs (121, 122) of said one part(12) are held pressed against the outside face of the free flanges ofsaid brackets (111, 112) of the other part (11).
 5. A guide deviceaccording to claim 4, characterized in that the outside peripheralsurface of the rollers (21) has a toroidal portion (22).
 6. A guidedevice according to claim 5, characterized in that the ends (23, 24) ofthe rollers (21) are shaped such that there is virtually no gap betweenthe rollers (21).
 7. A guide device according to claim 1, characterizedin that the shafts (30) of the rollers (21) are in substantially thesame plane.
 8. A guide device according to claim 7, characterized inthat the support (11-12) includes at least one slot (114) for fixing itto a support member.
 9. A guide device according to claim 1,characterized in that the rollers (21) are all identical and theirshafts (30) are disposed along the sides of a square.
 10. A guide deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the hook (123-124)cooperates with an end provided with a head (31) of the shaft (30) ofsaid roller (21).
 11. A guide device according to claim 1, characterizedin that the contour (101) is circular.
 12. A guide device according toclaim 1, characterized in that the outside peripheral surface of therollers (21) is of at least two sharply contrasting colors (25, 26).